EFFECTS OF PHENOBARBITAL, 3-METHYLCHOLANTHRENE AND POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS ON SEX-SPECIFIC FORMS OF CYTOCHROME-P-450 IN LIVER-MICROSOMES OF RATS

The effects of treatment with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) on the amounts of sex-specific forms of cytochrome P-450, namely P-450-male and P-450-female, in male and female rats were studied. Although treatments with phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene or PCB markedly increased the total amount of hepatic cytochrome P-450, P-450-male and P-450-female were rather decreased or not significantly changed. Thus, the percentages of P-450-male and P-450-female were rather decreased or not significantly changed. Thus, the percentages of P-450-male and P-450-female in the total cytochrome P-450 were decreased in liver microsomes from the treated rats. The increases in specific cytochromes P-450, such as P-448-H, P-448-L, and P-4501-c accounted for the increase in the total amount of cytochrome P-450 in the treated rats. The treatment with phenobarbital or PCB increased the activities of testosterone 16.alpha.-hydroxylase, benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase more markedly in female rats. Similarly, the treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene increased benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase more markedly in female rats. Therefore, the sex-differences in testosterone 16.alpha.-hydroxylase, benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase, and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities became smaller after the drug treatment. These results indicate that sex-specific P-450-male and P-450-female were unaffected, or even depressed by the agents in some cases.